Genesis 27:27-38

²⁷ So he drew near and kissed him. And Isaac smelled the smell of his clothes and blessed him and said, “See, the smell of my son is as the smell of a field that the LORD has blessed!

²⁸ May God give you from the dew of the sky and of the richness of the land and plenty of grain and wine.

²⁹ Let peoples serve you, and nations bow down to you. Be lord over your brothers, and may your mother’s sons bow down to you. Cursed be everyone who curses you, and blessed be everyone who blesses you!”

³⁰ As soon as Isaac had finished blessing Jacob, when Jacob had only just gone out from the presence of Isaac his father, Esau his brother came in from hunting his food.

³¹ He also prepared that delicious food and brought it to his father. And he said to his father, “Let my father get up and eat of his son’s food, that you may bless me.”

³² But his father Isaac said to him, “Who are you?” He answered, “I am your son, your firstborn, Esau.”

³³ Then Isaac trembled anxiously and said, “Who was it then that hunted game and brought it to me, and I ate it all before you came, and I have blessed him? Yes, and he shall be blessed.”

³⁴ As soon as Esau heard the words of his father, he cried out with an very loud and bitter cry and said to his father, “Bless me, even me also, O my father!”

³⁵ But he said, “Your brother came deceptively, and he has taken away your blessing.”

³⁶ Esau said, “Is he not rightly named Jacob? For he has cheated me these two times. He took away my birthright, and behold, now he has taken away my blessing.” Then he said, “Do you not have a blessing left for me?”

³⁷ Isaac answered and said to Esau, “See, I have made him lord over you, and all his brothers I have given to him for servants, and with grain and wine I have supported him. What then can I do for you, my son?”

³⁸ Esau said to his father, “Have you but one blessing, my father? Bless me, even me also, O my father.” And Esau lifted up his voice and wept. _________________________________________

losing the blessing

Isaac was Abraham’s son. He knew the importance of passing on the family blessing. Until now, Esau had shown no great attachment to the covenant his grandfather had made with the LORD. Suddenly it all becomes important to him, but too late.

The New Testament tells us that on the judgment day there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth,[1] for the same reason. Those who have despised the blessing God had to offer them all their lives will suddenly find that they are too late. Someone else will enjoy the richness of eternity. “The one who has the Son has life, the one not having the Son does not have that life.”[2] It all comes down to that.

LORD, we want your eternal blessing. We come to Christ, and cling to him. We count as loss all the other good things we possess, and all this world has to offer. Give us the eternal life you promised through his blood.

[1] Matthew 8:12; 13:42, 50; 22:13; 24:51; 25:30; Luke 13:28.

[2] 1 John 5:12.